Check It Out: Bipolar Buffalo: A Mosaic of Minds Journey

Why I choose this book: This book will help students come to a better understanding of the emotional pain of mental illness and show that there is hope for recovery and a fulfilling life.

How teachers can use this book: This book is used to support students in nursing and the mental health fields, but it can also be a valuable resource for teachers in the areas of literature, writing courses and as a way for college students and adult learners to understand their own feelings, challenges and hopes. The book can also be used in psychology and sociology classes because it addresses numerous personal, societal and cultural changes of the 20th Century.

What I liked best: The book is beautifully written in first person with exciting and emotional stories. It has been compared to a combination of Catcher in the Rye and One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest. It has excellent use of humor and involves metaphors and other literary devices.

About the author: Anthony Antek was born and raised in Lackawanna, N.Y. He is a former math teacher and school administrator. For more information, visit www.bipolarbuffalo.com.

"Check it Out" features books recommended to teachers and parents by school librarians and other educators. Have a recommendation?